China’s Zhongyuan Petrochemical to shut benzene unit at end-April

25 April 2012 03:15[Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--?xml:namespace>China’s Zhongyuan Petrochemical, a subsidiary of Sinopec, is planning to shut its 44,000 tonne/year benzene unit at Puyuan in Henan province at the end of April because of poor margins, a company source said on Wednesday.

“We have to conduct the turnaround because of the poor margins, despite the current tight supply in the domestic market,” the source said.

The turnaround will last for more than one month, according to the source, who did not give the specific schedule for the shutdown.

The plant produced 29,000 tonnes of benzene in 2011, the source added.